Celalettin Bey

Born in 1865, Celaleddin Bey was the son of Cemile Sultan, daughter of Sultan Abdülmecid, and Damat Mahmud Celaleddin Paşa. In sources he appears as Mehmed Mahmud Celaleddin Bey, one of the twin brothers born at Fındıklı Palace; his twin brother was İbrahim Sakıb Bey.

Raised within the family life of the Kandilli waterfront palace, Celaleddin Bey was remembered for his interest in hunting and animals.

Celaleddin Bey was among those who represented his mother during the process by which the Haliç Dersaadet ferry concession belonging to Cemile Sultan was turned into a company. He chaired the first board of directors of the Haliç Vapurları Company, founded in 1910.

In 1900, Celaleddin Bey was awarded the Mecidî order of the first class, and was then appointed a member of the Şûrâ-yı Devlet. The Şûrâ-yı Devlet was an important central institution established during the Tanzimat period with administrative and judicial functions.

The family grave also includes the names of his wife Visalinur, his daughter Mevhibe Celaleddin, his daughter-in-law Renginar, his son Nizamettin and his granddaughter Adile. The memoirs of his daughter Mevhibe Celaleddin were published under the title Geçmiş Zaman Olur Ki: Prenses Mevhibe Celâlettin’in Hatıraları; this work is one of the important testimonies to family and palace life in the late Ottoman dynastic circle.

Sultanzâde Mehmed Mahmud Celaleddin Bey died in 1916 and was buried in the Fatih Mosque Cemetery.